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In Valley today, Modi to push govt’s Srinagar, July 3 He is expected to inject some certainty in this state where illusions have filled the atmosphere so far. The question is: Will he able to instill hope and optimism among the people in need of confidence of protection and a future to look forward to? The threats that exist in Jammu and Kashmir were demonstrated on the Line of Control (LoC) early on Thursday morning where the Army foiled an intrusion attempt by militants who were trying to sneak into the Indian territory in the Krishna Ghati sector nestled in thickly forested Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas. The intruders were provided cover fire from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) side. Hizb-ul-Mujahadeen has come out with posters asking panchayat members to resign in south Kashmir. From Katra, the base camp of the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi, 50 km north of Jammu, to Uri, 125 km from the summer capital of Srinagar, a thick security blanket has been thrown for Modi’s visit. This kind of security shows how vulnerable the state is to the militancy related violence and disturbances on the borders. That could be the possible reason for him to have a security briefing at the Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar from Army commanders. Added to this is the fact that there are serious security concerns about the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where Chinese troops have made it a habit to intrude into the Indian territory. What Modi is keen to show is that he has an unwavering commitment to push forward the development which is always a casualty. The violence and the recurring calls for general strikes have thwarted government’s plans. The Prime Minister will flag off train from Katra to Udhampur, which is a dream project of the people of the region. Banihal, 188 km
from Jammu, is already linked to the Valley. After the completion of the Katra-Udhampur track, the focus will shift to the completion of the rest of the portion on
the track, the work on which is going on for almost a decade. At Uri, when he inaugurates the second phase of the hydro-electric project, 240 MWs would be added to the power generation to the power-starved state. Modi is also using the occasion to show his solidarity with the soldiers of the Army who have pulled the state out of the quagmire in which it was thrown by the disruptive elements. During the past two-and-a-half decades, disruptive elements have derailed the economy and cast a shadow on the politics. The PM will recognise the sacrifices and the pivotal role that the soldiers have played during his address to the troops in Srinagar. A silver lining is that the moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has issued a “policy statement” urging Modi to play the role of his role model former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to initiate talks with the representatives of Kashmir within the parameters of humanity. New train & power project
Kashmir is 'disputed territory': Pak Islamabad: Needling India ahead of Narendra Modi's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir as Prime Minister, Pakistan on Thursday harped on Kashmir being a "disputed territory". "We do not accept the so-called accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to India. Kashmir is not an integral part of India. Our position is that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam Khan said during a briefing. Her remarks came on the eve of Modi's one-day visit to Jammu and Srinagar. PTI
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